Sugar cane stubble digger



Feb. 19, 1952 E. F. PITRE 2,586,254

SUGAR CANE STUBBLE DIGGER Filed Dec. 16, 1946 Inventor Ernest F. Pifre By @Mm WW 19m Patented Feb. 19, 1952 SUGAR STUBBLEfDIGGER Ernest F. Pitre, NewIheriznLa. Application'December 16, 1946, Serial N0.,71'6,572

'.l his invention relates generally try-agricultural implements,- and more, particularly to a sugar cane stubble digger in which a pluralityof f-reely rotatablev members, each carryinga plurality of curved teeth, are eachyieldably supported on frame adapted to be hitched to "the rear endof a tractor or otherwise dragged over a cultivated field.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which is admirably suited for use with a plowor disc narrow, the plow or disc narrow being made to precede the present invention and to perform the initial steps in breaking up the stubble.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will free the clumps-of stubble from the superficialsoil so that the roots-bf the stubble can derive moisture, air and light, the stubble growth being left on the surface of the ground to sprout in the spring.

Another object of'this invention is to provide means for automatic lateral cultivation, that is, movement of certain portions of the soil in directions. substantially normal to. the direction of movement of the frame or more specifically through the arcs inscribed by the points of the teeth as the generally circulartoothed members are pulled through the soil.

Another object of this. invention is to provide a-device in which the cultivating members are free to oscillate within. certain predetermined limits, in a transverse direction, so that obstacles encountered as the digger is .lqulled through the soil are avoided and by-passed without injuring the teeth of the digger members.

A still further object ofthis invention is to provide a device of this character which in use will not become fouled or-clogged with stubble, and in which the bearing members are disposed well above the loose soil and thus are more easily kept in proper lubricated condition.

And a last object to be specifically mentioned is to provide a device of this general character which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, adapted to remain in upright position when not in use and therefore more easily coupled to tractors or trailers, easily adjustable as to width, and which is so engineered and designed as to make the device very sturdy, not likely to get out of order, and very durable in service.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, this invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in 2 the appended claim, reference-being hadvtargthe accqmpanyingdrawings which iorm a-.:mate'r ial part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled device, a portion orthe hitch for the implement being broken away;

Figure '2 is a bottom plan viewof :themultiple toothed digger member;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view: 10f the pivoted bearing member;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the spring supporting: structure and: contiguous portions, the view being taken from "the rear of the implement and beingelevational character with certain portions being shown in section to clarify-the illustration-and to amplify the disclosure of this invention.

Similar characters of'referenc'e designate similar oridentical parts and portions-=throughout the specification and the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to --'the --drawings :in- "detail, a T frame generally indicated by the numeral [0, and including cross-bars I 2, is'provided with a hitch, secured adjacent the portion M, but: "not. shown i-n-these drawings as the type of hi-tch is considered as immaterial to -this invention. A pair of-U-shaped bracket members-l6 ares'ecured'in spaced relation on the cross-member I 2 ,fibymeans of an abutment-plate l-B, bolts -2El'"and nu-ts 22,the brackets It being normally space'cl equallywfrom the center of the T frame it. The horizontally disposed flanges of the brackets l G' are each apertured to receivethe upwardly extending pivotpin portion 24 which may be madeinteg-ral with: the plate 2-6, and is equipped at the'other endthereof with an adjustable collar "28-, seourable to the pivot pinZ l by means of a set screw 30;-thus allowing" for limited vertical adjustment ofrthe plate 25. This plate gfiis essentially a spacer member for the double bearings 34 and 36 formed on the rearward end of this plate, adapted to re ceive the vertical shaft 38.. It will be understood, of course, that these brackets, plates, bearings and shafts 38 are all in duplicate, the right hand portion of the implement being essentially a duplication of the left hand portion.

A rearwardly extending apertured flange 40 Q is secured to each plate 26 adjacent the bearing 36, and an eye bolt 42 is secured in each of these flanges with the eye disposed towards the center of the implement and a threaded portion and a nut 44 is provided to coact with a sleeve 46 to allow for the longitudinal adjustment of each bolt relative to the flanges 40. A relatively produced on the strong helical spring 48 is terminally secured to the eyes of the two bolts 42, and it will now be clear that this structure provides for the independent movement of either of the arms or plates 26 outwardly or away from the other plate, such movement being a pivotal movement about the pivot pins 24, or both these said units may move together to the left or to the right, to avoid and to by-pass an obstruction implanted in the soil and thus to prevent damage to the implement. A collar 53 provided with a set screw 52 is associated with the upper end of each of the shafts 38 to allow for the vertical adjustment of the shafts, these collars being adapted to abut on the lower faces thereof the tops of the bearing portions 36, and a grease fitting 54 may be secured intermediate the length of a tubular portion 56 provided on the outer end of the plates 25, this tubular portion 56 registering with and coacting with the bearings 36 and 34, to firmly support the shaft..38.

Secured to the lower ends of each of the shafts 38 is a sleeve 58 to which a plurality of radially Idi'sposed teeth 60 are attached, preferably by welding, and a larger diameter cylindrical member 62, apertured at a plurality of points to receive said teeth at points intermediate the length thereof, is provided to give additional support to these teeth, This cylindrical member 62 may be welded to the individual teeth but it is preferred 1 that. these teeth be secured tightly in the recesses provided in the cylinder without welding, thus facilitating the removal of individual teeth for repair and replacement. Each tooth is similar and curved near the outer end thereof, the outer end portions being flat or very slightly arcuate as at 64, and pointed as at 66. A plurality of rows of these teeth may be provided and each tooth is spaced vertically as well as circumferentially in regular order, as illustrated in the drawings, and in the preferred embodiment of this invention the teeth on the outside of each of the rotating members point forwardly and inwardly towards the front of the implement.

With the foregoing description of the mechanical details of this invention in view, many practical uses of this implement will occur to the agriculturist, the use for which this machine has been specially designed, namely the cultivation of sugar cane stubble, being only one of many such fields of utility. When the machine is dragged over the cultivated field, the soil presents less interference for the points 36 of the teeththan for the corresponding blunt heel portions of these teeth. Consequently a torque is shafts 38 and the toothed members are made to rotate, this action carrying grass roots and the like from the sides of the machine towards the center, while at the same time cultivating the soil.

Many and various modifications of this invention may be made including changes in the form of the frame 12 which is essentially merely a means of supporting the other portions of the device, and may be deleted entirely when suitable horizontal members are provided in structures wherewith this invention is adapted to be used, for example, in a tractor trailer having a cross member whereon the brackets Hi can be readily secured. Other minor modifications will occur to the manufacturer of this device but all such modifications are matters of individual preferment and mechanical expediency and well within the scope of the appended claim.

Though there has been shown a" particular embodiment of this invention, this application is not limited to this particular embodiment, but it is desired to include in the scope of this invention the construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described this invention, .what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A sugar cane stubble digger comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced, verticallyslidable shafts rotatably mounted on said frame, vertical plates fixed on said shafts and extending horizontally therefrom, vertical bearings on the free ends of said plates, vertically adjustable shafts journaled in said bearings, rotary horizontal digging units on the lower portions of the second named shafts, apertured arms on the plates, eye bolts adjustably mounted on said arms, a coil spring connected to said eye bolts, adjusting nuts threaded on the eye bolts, and spacing sleeves on said eye bolts between the arms and said nuts, said spring yieldingly resisting spreading of the digging units in a horizontal plane.

ERNEST F. PITRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Dec. 3, 1920 

